Aubergine and Flannel: The Weekend in Town
A good coat, flannel trousers, flat shoes, and one bag with colour in it.
There is a way of dressing for a Saturday in town that never quite goes out of style. A good coat. Flannel trousers. Flat shoes. A bag that has been carried everywhere.
It is the uniform of people who walk to the shops and stop for lunch. The colours are grey, navy and brown. The bag is usually the only thing with any colour in it.
The Purple East West is a glossy TPU shoulder bag, 35 × 19 × 15 centimetres, in a clear violet-purple. It is long and low, and sits flat under the arm. With grey flannel, it does what a silk scarf does to a plain coat: one colour, in the right place.
Build the weekend look like this.
Grey flannel trousers, wide or straight, slightly long.
A navy or camel coat, worn open.
A cream jumper, cable or plain.
Brown loafers or suede ankle boots.
The purple bag, on the shoulder.
One rule: let the bag be the youngest thing you're wearing. Everything else can be old, worn and loved. The bag is the bit of now.
The long shape matters. A shoulder bag that sits close to the body leaves your hands free for coffee, newspapers and dogs on leads. It doesn't bump into people in a crowded market.
The gloss matters too. Against matte flannel and wool, the shine catches the light and lifts the whole outfit. Without it, all that grey can look heavy.
TPU is practical in a city weekend. Rain wipes off. A drop of mild soap on a damp cloth deals with marks. Avoid radiators and solvents, and keep it out of long, strong sun.
Some bags announce themselves. This one turns up, does its job and makes the grey look better.
Shop the bag
Further reading
- The East West shoulder bag (the full guide)
- The purple bag trend
- Purple jelly bags
Published: 13 October 2026